Open an element's dialog-box
To build a model, we do three steps:
STEP 2: | Open the element's dialog-box |
How to open a dialog-box to edit an element
There are many different ways to open an element's dialog-box. It is helpful to know different procedures for different cases.
In all cases, we must be able to select the element. We can select the element in three different places:
There are four main methods.
This procedure is universal - you can follow this procedure in all cases
Summary:
1. | Deselect all active commands |
2. | Click (or to see all referenced elements SHIFT+CLICK the element in the graphic-area or the Assembly-Tree |
The element is now in the Selection-Window
3. | Right-click the element in the Selection-Window |
4. | Click Edit element in the contextual-menu. |
You can also delete and rename an element when it is in the Selection-Window.
However, ... :
• | ... not all elements show in the Assembly-Tree |
There are elements you can click in the graphic-area, and they will show in the Selection-Window.
For example: Click the wire in the graphic-area to put it in the Selection-Window.
• | ... not all elements show in the graphic-area |
SHIFT+CLICK an element to show those elements that reference that element
E.g. : To put a sketch-constraint in the Selection-Window:
SHIFT+CLICK a Line to put the Line and constraints that are applied to the Line in the Selection-Window.
 Click element in the Graphic-Area
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1. | Click the element to put it in the Selection-Window. |
We can click the element in two places:
In the Graphic-area:
a. | Click the element ONE-TIME. |
The element shows in the Selection-Window.
Other elements may also show in the Selection-Window.
- OR -
In the Assembly-Tree.
a. | Click the element ONE-TIME |
The element shows in the Selection-Window.
Other elements may also show in the Selection-Window.
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 Click element in the Assembly-Tree
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 'Edit-element' in contextual menu after 'right-click of an element in the Selection-Window'
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2. | Right-click the element in the Selection-Window |
A contextual-menu shows - see image
3. | Click Edit-element in the contextual-menu. |
The element's dialog-box opens.
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Double-click does not always work because you cannot click the element or you also click a different element.
Summary:
Double-click the element in the:
 Double-click to open the element's dialog-box
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Double-Click in the Graphic-Area
1. | Move your mouse-pointer above the element so that the element changes colour* (typically, it becomes red) |
It is important that the only the element you want to edit becomes the 'highlight colour'
2. | Double-click the element in the graphic-area |
If it is difficult to double-click only the element, do one or all, of the following:
See
• | to make it possible to select only the element type you want to edit. |
• | to hide other elements. |
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 Double-Click element in Assembly-Tree
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-OR-
Double-click in the Assembly-Tree
1. | Double-click the element in the . |
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 Double-Click element in Selection-Window
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Double-click in the Selection-Window
1. | Click the element in the graphic-area or the Assembly-Tree one time so that it shows in the Selection-Window. |
When the element is in ,
2. | Double-click the element in the Selection-Window. |
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Summary:
1. | Right-click the element in the Selection-Window, the Assembly-Tree and Graphic-Area |
2. | Click 'Edit-Element in the contextual-menu. |
 Click, then Right-Click in Assembly-Tree
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In the Assembly-Tree:
1. | Click the element in the Assembly-Tree to give it focus |
2. | Right-click the element that has the focus |
In the contextual-menu:
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In the Graphic-Area:
1. | Click the graphic-area to deselect all elements |
2. | Hover + Right-click an element. |
The contextual-menu shows.
In the contextual-menu:
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Do:
1. | Click the Element in the Selection-Window, Assembly-Tree or Graphic-Area |
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 Click element in Graphic-Area
 Click element in Assembly-Tree
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In the Graphic-area, Assembly-Tree, or Selection-Window:
1. | Click the element in the Selection-Window |
or
1. | Click the element in the graphic-area |
or
1. | Click the element in the Assembly-Tree |
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 Click 'Edit-Element' icon in Edit menu
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The element's dialog-box opens.
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Special Cases:
 CANNOT EDIT
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Need to Know 1:
You CANNOT edit a dimension when (or any other command) is active.
See image - is active, thus you CANNOT edit the dimension.
Need to know 2:
To select the dimension, we recommend you move your pointer over the arrowhead, then click, or double-click. It is easier to click the arrowhead than the dimension-line or an extension-lines.
Need to know 3:
If you try to click the dimension number - 97.02 in the image to the left - MechDesigner will not respond.
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 CAN EDIT
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To edit a Dimension:
You must de-select all other commands. Most typically, is active
1. | Click again, to de-select |
Then, edit the element in the normal way E.g.:
2. | Double-Click the arrowhead of a dimension to open the Dimension dialog-box |
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When you click a Gear-Pair or 2D-Cam it is possible that you click a total of four elements:
• | the Gear-Pair (or 2D-Cam) |
• | a Profile and Extrusion element. |
In this case, to edit the Gear-Pair (or 2D-Cam), we recommend you use the Selection-Window - See Here
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To edit a Profile, or Auto-Profile.
1. | Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to spin the model, so that you can see the pink (default colour) Profile Element. |
2. | SHIFT-CLICK the pink Profile element |
The Profile and Extrusion elements are now in the Selection-Window.
2. | Right-click the Extrusion element in the Selection-Window (not the Profile element) |
3. | Click Edit element in the contextual-menu. |
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You cannot edit an element when:
• | A different dialog-box is open. Close all other dialog-boxes. (ALT+F4 if you cannot see the dialog) |
• | You double-click two or more elements. You will open none or one dialog-boxes. |
• | A command is active, in the . You must complete or cancel that command. |
• | You click or double-click an element that is not possible to edit - for example, a Line when using the Part-Editor. |
• | If you double-click a Profile in the Selection-Window you will not edit the Extrusion |
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